I would like to finish my blog today, talking about a few things of interest to me and one of them may even bring a smile to my dear friend Billy Bob.
First, I would like to thank the San Diego Association of Realtors for creating the Ambassadors Foundation. The foundation is working with the SDPOA to assist its members in becoming homeowners by buying down their mortgage loan interest rates. The reduced rates will cut homeownership costs and hopefully allow more San Diego cops to fulfill their dream of owning a home and working in this great city. If you want more information about the program, go to www.ambassadorsfoundation.org.
Next, Billy Bob, you my friend have a new champion in the pension fight. His name is Keith Richman and he has an interesting proposal. Richman’s proposal was formally submitted to the California Attorney General and could be placed on the ballot as early as the June 2008 elections. Under the proposal, pensions would be cut by 30 percent to 65 percent for new public employees, such as police officers, firefighters and teachers, hired on or after July 1, 2009.
If you thought recruiting cops in this state was tough before, I don’t even want to think what would happen if something like this bill were to pass. I don’t know when people are going to realize that there is a national shortage of police officers and competition to recruit and retain the best personnel is intense. If every city is mandated to offer the type of pension plans being envisioned by Keith Richman, candidates will simply take jobs in other states that offer better plans or cities will have to increase salaries well into the $100,000 dollar range to find qualified applicants.
In the short term, I can tell you that this proposal may also negatively impact negotiations between the SDPOA and the City of San Diego this year. We will have to see what happens with it.
Thank you for taking the time to read my posts, I wish I could blog some more but I have to go. Please contact me at jjordon@sdpoa.org if you want to ask me a direct question.
— JEFF JORDON